Back From 2691 Mile Road Trip (In The 205)

[Simes 248 2 Cars]

Hello,

 

Just returned from a 3 week holiday 'around' France. We often holiday in France as my family live there and we can pop in on the way back, but this time we decided to go to a couple of places we've been trying to go for a long time.

 

In the past we've driven down to the Alps, to Biarritz (practically Spain and famously after the reshell) the Champagne region, West coast amongst many others.

 

This one though was going to be a mission what with the amount of miles we were going to cover. We wanted to see the Ardeche region (almost the South of France) and the Auvergne (a little further north). Again a camping mission, but longer so everything needed to fit.

 

I spent a few weeks getting the car ready, I'd already done 800 miles across France earlier in the year with knackered wishbone bushes so that wasn't going to happen again. The 'only' thing I did was change oil, top up water, oddly a compression check, get my wheels refurb'd and fit some quality Focal component speakers. The latter would prove a distraction to the exhaust booming well into the 7th hour of motorway'ing.

 

Left home at 5am to get onto the 06.40 ferry to Calais and taking a mixture of Autoroutes and N roads we made our way south. Being a Sunday there weren't any lorries on the road and going the way we did we saved £75 in tolls. We arrived at 7pm after quite an interesting drive especially towards the end crossing the Massif Central. Hannah (my wife) even got to drive, I might add the first time in this 205 and in fact any since 2008!!! Baptism of fire reminding herself of the 205 quirks when rolling out straight onto the motorway!

 

Spent a week in the Ardeche, driving around the Gorge mixture of main roads and mountain roads so some (restrained) fun. Weather was always sunny and between 33 and 38 deg C (hot) Anyone who says they need 2 fans is mad, mine cooled down lovely in this heat albeit when switching off the fan would stay on for a 3 or 4 minutes...sop doing as intended.

 

After that a week in the Auvergne - and to get there we decided to go via the Millau Bridge via some nice twisty mountain roads.

 

Finally the slog to Normandy for a week there.

 

In all the years I've been going to France in a 205GTI (12 or 13 I think) this is the first year that it has received attention. Being asked questions in petrol stations, campsite owner wanted it, thumbs up from pedestrians, pretty much everyday there was a pleasant comment made to me. Not sure if the TB's (noise) had anything to do with it but they seem to love it. Only saw one other and we waved at each other!

 

So how much does it cost to pedal a 205GTI 2691 miles well........

 

I've just worked out we did 10 fuel stops

 

395 litres which cost 633 Euros

 

or translated for you

 

89 Gallons which came to roughly £497

 

I wanted to work out the mpg per tank but after the third tank forgot to note the mileage done. Overall we did 30.2mpg which isn't bad considering the range of driving (spelt: me flooring it through mountain tunnels and passes).

 

So then reliability....................nothing went wrong although I think I may have lost a wheel weight at some point.

 

 

Sadly, in some ways, this will be our last trip in the 205GTI for holidays, no it's not being sold, but my wife is expecting our first child so.....the 206cc will be going to make way for an E91 320D Touring.

 

 

Yep, all that in a 205.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Millau Bridge

 

 

 

 

Edited August 13, 2012 by Simes

[BERTMAN 40 1 Cars]

Those roads look pretty epic, would love to do this around Europe one day

[pug_ham 244 3 Cars]

Very nice, sounds like you had a great time.

 

Congrats about the baby, was she expecting before the trip?

 

g

[Alastairh 47]

Looks like a fun trip, slightly jealous.

 

Congrats with the arrival!

[welshpug 1,657]

Good going, who says 205's were unreliable eh! Done 7k miles in mine since january!

[Richie 32]

Awesome trip mate, makes me want to jump in the 205 now and drive somewhere good!

[Carbs4me 45]

Awesome trip! No wonder fuel prices are going up, you have been using it all

[Baz 421]

Very nice! Thanks for sharing & congrats on the bubba!

[kyepan 291]

awesome, any chance you can stick your route into google maps? would love to follow in the footsteps at some point.

[maturin23 10]

Well done Sir!

[lemmingzappa 75 1 Cars]

Nice one, very jealous. Grats also!

[Simes 248 2 Cars]

awesome, any chance you can stick your route into google maps? would love to follow in the footsteps at some point.

 

 

 

This is roughly what we did to get to each of our 3 stops. This doesn't cover the days out visting / activities etc.

Edited August 14, 2012 by Simes

[maxi 36 1 Cars]

France is such a beautiful country and as you well know I am regular visitor, work and holidays. We have only just got back from the dordogne ( we went in my transit though) and looking at your map you actually made the exact trip we did on the way back. Glad you had a fabulous time and congrats on the baby!

 

Maxi

[Gavin Waddell 18]

while you were in ardeche region did you go canoeing down the ardeche as its worth it, beautiful scenery.

[Simes 248 2 Cars]

while you were in ardeche region did you go canoeing down the ardeche as its worth it, beautiful scenery.

 

Oh so tempting especially as the campsite had the Ardeche river at the bottom of it. Unfortunately due to pregnancy we didn't!!

[u47sb2 27 2 Cars]

and I thought I was adventurous using one for commuting to work...

[adie205 12]

wow, so jealous! back yesterday from the la vendee, took the audi so should have taken the 205. Over 10 day's in france I didnt seen one gti!

 

Congrats on the baby

[fordygti 4]

Looks and sounds like you had a great time. I'm planning a trip round Europe next year. Any tips on europian driving trips, apart from stay on the right side of the road.

[lewis205cti 12]

Sound great mate. Some pressure roads I bet the pug loved it. The second picture is awesome.